The Parable of the Good Samaritan
An expert in law wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Luke 10, 29-37

"Love your Neighbour as you love yourself” according to Christ this is the greatest commandment, yet globalisation a Christendom led process cannot concede to this commandment. Have you ever wondered who your neighbour was? According to the principles of globalisation your neighbour is the cocoa producer in Ghana and the 12- year old boy in Pakistan producing de­signer clothing at cheap labour.

Globalisation is the integration of markets both for goods and services. On one hand globalisation is uniting the world and generating new levels of wealth, on the other it is generating greater levels of inequalities giving rise to further social illnesses.

On a local level we are compelled by media advertising to buy chocolate with a fraction of the money going towards the cocoa producer. We wear name branded clothes to look cool and fit the norm, simultaneously creating social divides amongst ourselves.

On an international level unfair trading laws commissioned by governmental organisations such as the EU mean that cocoa producers cannot set their own prices. Equally the conditions imposed upon textile producers are best described as enslaved conditions.
Through purchasing certain products we exacerbate this process; is this neighbourly love?

As a single integrated community with an international system shaping the domestic politics and foreign relations of approximately each state, the result is the loss of self determination for each state, leaving determinacy in the hand of minority powerful states such as the EU and non governmental organisations.

The erosion of an organised society through the loss of governance is best illustrated by Iraq. September 11th and global terrorism are reactions to this footprint of globalisation and serve as manifestations of revolt for change through suicide and mass bombing.

Do you therefore still recognise your neighbour or has globalisation morphed your neighbour into its preferred image; the suicide bomber without a cause? Alternatively do you loathe the prescribed definition of your neighbour?
Refugees are a by product of poverty and war; within the EU they are considered as pestilence, consequently they are disrobed of their human rights. In fact all they seek is stability, security and peace, some of the basic values that globalisation is set to promote.

The irony is that globalisation distorts the image of our neighbours and sets us apart from acknowledging them. As globalisation draws us closer to our neighbours, the time approaches for the EU to emanate as the Good Samaritan; for our neighbours are our victims, namely Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean.